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My interview with Tomas Berdych
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Not one single other reporter besides myself attended #4 seed Tomas Berdych’s post match press conference after beating Daniel Gimeno Traver in three sets, so it was an excellent opportunity to ask the Czech star about Roger Federer for my Federer book and also to update his Biofile.
Wearing a white James Dean t-shirt, Berdych shared some interesting insights about his Olympic win over Roger and also it was apparent how much he enjoys each and every chance he gets to square off with the legendary Swiss…
Q. Can you describe what your feeling is to walk on the court to play Roger Federer?
TOMAS BERDYCH: I said that many times, for me it’s kind of a final of the tournament, you know, or celebration of tennis, I would say, because it’s always great to be with him on the court, you know, with the results that he achieved and what a star he is.
It’s every single time for me, you know, “the” match, you know, to be ready and to be really focused on. So, yeah, I like those matches so much. I would like to play with those guys every time.
Q. What’s your most memorable match with him?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, definitely is the one from Wimbledon 2010 where it was the first time I beat him on the Grand Slam. You know, it was Wimbledon, so it was even more special to me.
Yeah, it was first time that I won actually on the Centre Court in Wimbledon, as well.
So, you know, it’s been really a lot of, I would say the first moments, and then, yeah, beating him there was something really incredible.
Q. Do you remember your first memory of Federer, maybe a conversation? What’s your first memory of Federer?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, it’s from actually the Athens that I beat him first time. We came to the court for the warmup before the game, and actually we had a they sign us on the same court at the same time.
So we want to start, and he came and he said, Guys, I have this court. I said, Yeah, but we have it, too.
Then he was like, Okay, so we will share. And then he said, You know what? Let’s split it. I will take the first half an hour and then you do the second one. He said, Fine? I said, Yeah, yeah, sure, of course. Go.
It was actually the first time that I ever saw him that close. I was sitting next to the court watching him warm up and I was saying to my coach, What am I going to do with him? What should I do? I was seeing him first time how he sees the ball, how fast he plays.
My match with him was in couple of hours. I was like, Okay, what I’m going to do? Actually I went on court to play him and I beat him. It was incredible for me.
Q. Do you remember the first famous tennis player you ever met when you were a young boy or first famous tennis player you met or encountered?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, like really met personally? It’s tough to say. It’s gonna be from the days that I actually get on tour and get to the big tournaments to play with these guys.
So not like I mean, I would be a kid and someone who introduced me or bring me to, I don’t know, Andre Agassi and said, like, Look, this is Andre. I would be like this, as a kid. (Indicating short.)
So it was a time that, I don’t know, I start to play the bigger tournaments. Then I qualify for my first Grand Slam in US Open, I believe. Yes, US Open. And then I have been part of the draw with all of the guys. So sharing the same space and everything.
So that was probably the first time.
Q. What’s the greatest moment of your career?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Greatest? Well, I would say that well, it’s been the final of Davis Cup that we played in Prague. That was really something incredible with all the coincidence around the 100 final that we played at home we won after that long. And how it went, it was really, really incredible. Incredible for me.
Well, it’s a team event, so for myself, it’s gonna be the final of Wimbledon.
"What should I do?" · Berdych asked
tootsie · March 25, 2013 at 1:02 am
You’re lucky Berdych didn’t knock you dead with his cold hard stare. Not too many players appreciate being asked about the stardom of another one. I wouldn’t either if I was in his place. If I had just played a good match and some guy was so star struck with someone else that they wanted to talk about what it felt like to walk onto court with him like a fanboy, well…I wouldn’t have been as polite as Tomas was.
loreley · March 25, 2013 at 3:49 am
Guys on twitter were wondering why Berdych got asked questions about Federer, but nothing about the match against Gimeno-Traver ๐
Romi Cvitkovic Romi Cvitkovic รขโฌย@RomiCvitkovic
What was that Berdych presser? 3 of 5 q’s on Federer(?) and NONE on match he just almost lost, or his next opponent? #ohtennis
Tennis Panorama News Tennis Panorama News รขโฌย@TennisNewsTPN
OK, Berdych’s post-match news conference consisted entirely of questions in regard to playing Roger Federer? Huh?
Erik Gudris รขโฌย@ATNtennis
This was Berdych’s first question in press. Q. Can you describe what your feeling is to walk on the court to play Roger Federer? #SOT13
loreley · March 25, 2013 at 3:55 am
Poor effort from the press that only one guy (you) showed up for Berdych’s presser.
I watched the most of the match & it was really tough for Tomas to come through. The courts in Miami are so slow. It’s pathetic. Too many guys came into 2nd & 3rd “who can’t play tennis” ๐
Steve · March 25, 2013 at 8:17 am
He’s like Kolay the Obscure #2. Maybe he likes it this way though. Hard to tell.
Scoop Malinowski · March 25, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Tootsie, Berdych is very nice and we have spoken before. Since nobody else was there it was a very good opportunity to ask him questions for my book about Fed. The players are pretty flexible they get some odd questions from time to time and they are able to handle anything that comes there way. Berdych was super nice about it and seemed to enjoy talking about it especially how he gets up for Federer and the Olympic practice session story.
Scoop Malinowski · March 25, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Loreley, I hope you and others enjoyed the QA at least ) He did give some interesting replies I thought.
loreley · March 25, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Did you tell him that you ask him about Federer because of the book you write? Otherwise he must have been annoyed.
Scoop Malinowski · March 25, 2013 at 7:37 pm
No Loreley he was not annoyed in the least, I made it clear it was something else something different and he was super cool.
Amanda · March 27, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Tomas seems really nice. I hope more reporters came to his press after that Querrey beat down! ๐
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Amanda, Berdych is very very nice guy, every single time I’ve spoken with him. And he is playing killer tennis right now, it wasn’t Q being off, it was Berd being ON. Perfect form, crushing the ball, consistent, really focused. He can win the title. And a major this year.